They gathered around the cake.

Eight candles flickered as Eli squeezed his eyes shut to make a wish.

When he blew, everyone cheered, and not one person asked what he had wished for.

Some things belonged only to him.

PART 21: The Call Lena Never Forgot

On the first anniversary of the rescue, Lena attended a training session for new officers.

She had been asked to speak about the importance of patient observation, timely reports, and resisting assumptions in missing-person cases.

She described the investigation without identifying private medical details.